Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that harnessing of green energy has been given considerable fillip by his Government and generation of solar, thermal and wind power is receiving due attention alongwith launch of hydro electric projects in the State.
Omar Abdullah said that the interest of investors in the sector of New and Renewable Energy (N&RE) is highly encouraging and it will get further boost by the J&K State Solar Power Policy which is in offing.
Taking presentation about the generation potential of solar power in Ladakh and Jammu regions at a meeting, the Chief Minister said that while State Power Development Corporation is working on execution of medium and mega hydro electric projects, the Department of Science and Technology is looking after implementation of micro power projects including those in N&RE sector.
“The target before the Government is to transform Jammu and Kashmir from energy deficit State to power sufficient one within next 7 to 10 years”, he said, adding that projects under Joint Venture, IPP and PPP mode already approved by the Government would catapult the indigenous production of hydro power in the State.
Omar Abdullah said that the potential of solar, thermal and wind energy generation has been identified to a greater extent and its harnessing has been put on focus by the Government. He said various schemes have been approved with the assistance of Union Ministry for N&RE and many are in the pipeline.
It was stated on the occasion that Ladakh region alone has potential of generating 12000 MWs of solar energy. It has been identified that 86900 kilometers of land is receiving sunshine in the area and the radiation level in Ladakh is 6 to 7 kWh/m/day which is the best in the country. It was also informed that the photovoltaic technology in which light energy is converted into electricity is best suited for harnessing solar energy in Ladakh region.
The meeting also discussed launching of solar power projects in the feasible areas of Jammu region and implementing hydro electric schemes in Kashmir and Chenab Valley areas.
The meeting among others was attended by Minister of State for Science and Technology, Feroz Ahmad Khan, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary Power Development Department, A. K. Mehta, Commissioner Secretary Science and Technology, Bipul Pathak and various other senior officers.
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